Tag Archives: Department of Foreign Affairs

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte was reported to have approved for a PHP1-billion budget to assist distressed Filipinos abroad in 2018, from previous PHP600 million.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) expects to start implementing “liberal” guidelines for the provision of assistance to nationals (ATN) to all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in distress by next year.���
Raul Dado, DFA Executive Director for Migrant Workers Affairs, said Friday the new guidelines are up for review by Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano.��

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Ernesto Abella dismissed speculations that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte refused to meet United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, saying “There was nothing personal and it should not be given negative connotation”.
Abella’s statement came in reaction to accusations that President Duterte refused to meet Mr. Ban when he goes to Laos PDR (People’s Democratic Republic) during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next week.
“It was a matter of scheduling,” Abella told reporters in a press conference Friday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City. Abella emphasized on the tight schedule of the President, who could no longer find ample time for Mr. Ban.
He said the President was scheduled to meet with 11 heads of states and Mr. Ban’s request for appointment came late.
The President was accused of rejecting a meeting with the UN head after a UN rapporteur strongly criticized his anti-drug war. Mr. Duterte lambasted the UN official for lack of diplomatic protocol, indicating lack of respect to a leader of a sovereign state.

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The Proliferation of Drugs Syndicates at the National Bilibid Prison with Ronnie Palisoc Dayan Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs (November 23, 2016)(November 23, 2016)Sept. 19, 2016House Committee Hearing